How can the Post Office say a hill is flat?

The Post Office claims that customers of a branch facing the axe will have to walk only half a mile 'along level terrain-to get to another branch.

But in fact the journey takes half an hour and means a difficult walk down a steep slope and a return climb.

The community around Bailgate post office in Lincoln was recently 'consulted' over plans to axe the branch in the New Year. The post office sits at the top of aptly named Steep Hill, which is between Lincoln Cathedral, which towers above the city, and Lincoln Castle.

The main branch, which was suggested as an alternative, is inside a Co-op store in City Square shopping centre.

As Financial Mail tested the walk, retired decorator Frank Barrett, 61, was struggling back up the hill with his wife Sandra, 62.

He is waiting for a double-knee replacement and says: 'If I had a heart condition this walk would have killed me, but as it is all I need is oxygen when I get to the top. Closing the branch is an utter disgrace.

'It is a sick joke to claim this is a level walk and shows the contempt for communitiesand lack of honesty being used when deciding on closures.'

Gordon Brightman, 76, was pushing brother Herbert, 81, up the hill in a wheelchair. With them were their respective wives Eileen, 70, and Christine, 77.

Herbert, a diabetic, recently had three toes amputated because of his condition, while Christine walks with a stick because she has arthritis.

Christine says: 'When you have mobility problems you really understand just how important it is to have a post office close by. The people who make the closure decisions have no such difficulties and don't seem to have even got out of their cars to see just what is going on.'

The claim about flat terrain came in the 'proposed branch closure' letter that was handed out to the 500 residents in October when the consultation process began. The Post Office has since been forced to issue fresh letters after protests from local residents, which included hanging a Save Our Post Office banner from the Cathedral.

Ben Poole, 44, owner of Imperial Teas of Lincoln, just around the corner from Bailgate branch, says that everyone is a loser if the post office goes. He posts at least two dozen parcels of specialist tea a day to customers through the branch.

Ben says: 'It will be catastrophic for local businesses such as mine. It is not just the elderly and disabled without transport who are left stranded.

'I will be forced to take my business elsewhere and use a private courier. The Post Office does not deserve our custom if it behaves in such a contemptible way by closing a thriving branch.'

Four miles east of Lincoln city centre in Langworth there is further evidence of dirty tactics being used to force closures of rural branches. But the 400-strong community refuses to just roll over and dozens of Save Our Post Office banners have been planted across the village.

Sitting outside the post office and convenience store is a stuffed dummy of Gordon Brown reminding customers who to blame.

Arnold Hadwin, 78, a retired local newspaper editor, was doing his bit for the community by sweeping up leaves. 'The Post Office's so-called consultation is a farce. The tactics would make a disreputable door-to-door salesman blush,' he says.

'Failure to reveal the criteria used to select the closure victims is underhand and quite unforgivable as it gives us no opportunity to argue our case.'

Subpostmistress Megan Handley, 51, and husband John, 58, are heartbroken at the prospect of a New Year axeing after ten years serving the community. 'We are hopping mad,' says Megan. 'Though we were told there would be a consultation, it simply isn't true. Nobody has even bothered to come to speak to us. And threatening to withdraw redundancy payments if we talk about our predicament is nothing short of intimidation.'

Financial adviser and post office campaigner Terry O'Halloran, 61, says closure will not only hurt the people of Langworth, but also the residents of a dozen nearby villages and hamlets.

Terry, from Staintonby-Langworth says: 'There is far more than a post office at stake. It is also a grocery store, newsagent, bank and handles prescription pick-ups.'

He believes the Government has underestimated its importance as a social service for looking after the elderly and vulnerable as well as a community hub.

Lorry protest makes feelings clear

The Lincolnshire town of Louth was brought to a standstill when a convoy of trucks drove through its centre in support of post offices.

Accompanied by a police escort, the ten 44-ton lorries made their way through Mercer Row and East Gate as hundreds of people came out to cheer.

The trucks were led by local haulage company owner Elaine Smith, 41, one of the many fighting for the survival of Brackenborough Road post office.

Elaine says: 'It is criminal that such a highly valued family-run post office, which clearly makes a profit, is being axed. The decision is simply ridiculous.

'I can't afford to spend hours waiting in overcrowded town centre branches. Closing this post office will be catastrophic for business and our community.' Subpostmaster David Southwood, 66, runs the branch with his wife Jean, 64, and sons Leigh, 43, and Blair, 36.

He is desperately sad that after 25 years of loyally serving his community he could be forced out by faceless bureaucrats. David was told in the summer that his branch faced the axe, but he was not allowed to tell his customers until October when the 'consultation' process began.

David says: 'You have to remain optimistic that common sense will prevail and that a branch that makes money should not be forced to shut. Having put so much into the post office with the intention of passing it down to my family, the prospect of closure is one I have not the heart to contemplate.'